we remain concerned about stability in pakistan and the security of that country's nuclear arsenal. we are attempting to counter terrorist threats emanating from pakistan, east africa, yemen and many other locations. into this confluence of economic and national security commitments, the president has involved our nation in a civil war in libya. we find ourselves in a situation where congress is debating vast cuts in domestic programs to make essential progress on the deficit, even as president obama has initiated an expensive, open-ended military commitment in a country that his defense secretary has said is not of vital interest. any member who has been here to witness the last ten years should understand that war is an inherently precarious enterprise that is conducive to accidents, to unintended consequences, and miscalculations. the last ten years have also illuminated clearly that initiating wars and killing the enemy is far easier than achieving political stability and reconstructing a country when the fighting is over. this is why going to war should be based on u.s. vital i